Boise Idaho Cheesecake Factory Linked to Hepatitis A Risk

According to the Idaho Statesman, an employee at the Cheesecake Factory on Milwaukee Avenue in Boise may have exposed some diners at the restaurant to Hepatitis A this winter. The Statesman’s report is based on information from the Central District Health Department.

Health officials said the exposure may have occurred between Dec. 13 and Jan. 22.

The employee who was confirmed to have Hepatitis A wasn’t involved in food preparation, and the risk to the public is “extremely low” — but there was some possibility of exposure to diners, the health department said. The employee is said to have used good hand hygiene.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is usually spread by eating or drinking food items that have been contaminated with hepatitis A from someone who hasn’t properly washed their hands after using the bathroom, but it is also spread easily when a person doesn’t wash his or her hands after changing a baby’s diaper.

Symptoms of the disease include: fever, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, tiredness, nausea and dark urine. Anyone who ate at the Cheesecake Factory between Dec. 13. and Jan. 22 and has these symptoms is advised to see their doctor. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, lasting anywhere from a couple weeks to several months.

Health officials said the Cheesecake Factory, which is at 330 N. Milwaukee Ave., fully cooperated with the investigation.

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The hepatitis A blog supplements Marler Clark's Web site www.about-hepatitis.com, a site that provides information about hepatitis A, the symptoms and risks of infection, hepatitis A testing/detection, and how to prevent the spread of the hepatitis A virus.